Family, Friends Welcome Jent In New Jersey

Magic - The Buzz

April 3, 2005|By Tim Povtak, Sentinel Staff Writer

This was like a homecoming for Chris Jent, who was getting repeated congratulatory handshakes and backslaps before Saturday's game. Jent was a high school star in nearby Sparta, N.J., which is a 45-minute drive from the Continental Airlines Arena.

To most everyone's surprise, he was named Magic interim head coach last month to replace Johnny Davis.

Jent needed 200 tickets to satisfy all his friends and family that wanted to welcome him home. He expected to visit with many of them after the game because the Magic weren't scheduled to leave for Dallas until noon today.

"At times, the feeling of responsibility [as head coach] now is overwhelming. It just doesn't allow you to rest,'' he said before the game. "The second you wake up in the morning, your heart is pumping. And you want to start working.''

CARTER'S COMEBACK

Even if the Nets don't make the playoffs, all-star Vince Carter has done wonders in New Jersey to help his once-fading reputation.

Carter, from Daytona Beach Mainland, was being criticized from all sides earlier this season in Toronto, where he looked like he was playing at half speed at times. It was obvious he wanted out of Canada, where he had spent the first six years of his NBA career.

Since coming to the Nets in a trade on Dec. 17, he has been revitalized, leading this charge into playoff contention. Before Saturday's game, he had scored 30 points or more 19 times for the Nets.

"Since he got here, he's just put us on his back and carried,'' said teammate Travis Best.

HOWARD STAYS POSITIVE

Things may be falling apart all around him, but Magic rookie Dwight Howard has kept an optimistic view of the playoff situation.

"I'm not going to give up on it until we're officially dead,'' Howard said. "If we lose 2-3 in a row, that still won't dim my outlook. I want to be in the playoffs. And I want to win in them. So I'll keep fighting until they tell me it's over.''

ARENA FAMILIAR TO BARRETT

Next to Jent, the guy who felt the most comfortable at Continental Airlines Arena is the guy who has been with the team the shortest time and may not be with them much longer. Andre Barrett, signed to a 10-day contract Thursday, played at Seton Hall, which uses this arena as its home court.

"It'll feel good to step back on the floor,'' he said. "I have a lot of good memories from this place.''